IL Notary Notary Commission Application and Renewal Process 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long is an Illinois notary public commission valid?
- 2 years
- 4 years (Correct answer)
- 6 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 4 years
Under the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312), a notary commission is valid for 4 years from the date of commission.
Question 2: What is the minimum age requirement to apply for an Illinois notary public commission?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
Illinois law requires notary applicants to be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
Question 3: To which Illinois government office does a notary applicant submit their commission application?
- Illinois Attorney General
- Illinois Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- County Clerk
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Correct answer: Illinois Secretary of State
The Illinois Secretary of State's office processes notary public applications and issues commissions.
Question 4: What is the required surety bond amount for an Illinois notary public?
- $1,000
- $2,500
- $5,000 (Correct answer)
- $10,000
Correct answer: $5,000
Illinois law requires notary applicants to obtain a $5,000 surety bond before their commission is issued.
Question 5: Which residency condition allows a non-Illinois resident to qualify for an Illinois notary commission?
- Owning real estate in Illinois
- Having family members who live in Illinois
- Maintaining a regular place of employment or practice in Illinois (Correct answer)
- Holding a professional license issued by Illinois
Correct answer: Maintaining a regular place of employment or practice in Illinois
Illinois allows non-residents who maintain a regular place of employment or practice within the state to qualify for a notary commission.
Question 6: After being commissioned, where must an Illinois notary file their oath of office?
- Illinois Secretary of State's office
- Illinois Supreme Court
- County clerk of the county where the notary resides or is employed (Correct answer)
- Circuit court of their judicial district
Correct answer: County clerk of the county where the notary resides or is employed
Illinois notaries must file their oath of office and commission certificate with the county clerk of their county of residence or primary employment.
Question 7: What must an Illinois notary applicant submit along with their application to the Secretary of State?
- A completed background check form only
- A surety bond and the applicable application fee (Correct answer)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship only
- Two letters of professional recommendation
Correct answer: A surety bond and the applicable application fee
The Illinois notary application must be accompanied by the required $5,000 surety bond and payment of the applicable application fee.
IL Notary Notary Commission Application and Renewal Process 1
How long is an Illinois notary public commission valid?